I've read lots on here about how Emirates have been pleading with Transport Canada for more slots to fly between Canada and the UAE, as Canada only allows seven flights a week shared by both Etihad and Emirates...

What is the situation with flights between Qatar and Canada - are these restricted?

I was just thinking if the route is in as much demand as EK makes out, and I would expect the vast majority of this traffic will be by passengers connecting on to Asia...

Could this be a golden opportunity for an airline like Qatar Airways to help fill the void that supposedly exists by offering a daily service... They could possibly try and service a route like YVR-YYC-DOH a 3x Weekly and YUL or YYZ-DOH. Then they could offer the similar connections at DOH onto the Middle East and Asia!

Im not sure of restrictions on fligths between both countries and what demand is like, but was just curious to know other peoples views...

Sorry just a minor correction. EK and EY share 6 flights a week. EK told Transport Canada they wanted 7 flights and wouldn't start service until they got that. So when EY took three, EK changed their mind and took the remaining three.

I don't know the numbers but Montreal has a decent sized arab community. AF has good coverage at YUL most connect through them. My guess would be that there are fewer people connecting to India and Pakistan though through YUL.

There is no bilateral between Canada and Qatar. So the question is moot. Since Canada has bilaterals with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, I presume there is no reason why it wouldn't negotiate one with Qatar.

Air Canada and Qatar Airways have a good relationship, built mainly on interlining traffic in London. QR has an office in Toronto.

I've always felt that if QR were to offer Air Canada reciprocial codesharing via Doha and Toronto, they could create a popular service. I know of several people who travel between Canada and Pakistan and prefer QR over EK or European airlines. Doha would give AC convenient access to more of South Asia over QR's network.

However, I don't know QR's corporate outlook on Canada. And there is the pending launch of the new AC/CO/UA/LH transatlantic joint venture, and presumably the partners want to flow as much onward connecting business for the middle east and south asia over those flights.

Quoting Sebring (Reply 3):There is no bilateral between Canada and Qatar.

This is the major issue here. Canada is already very wary of the Middle Eastern carriers as it is. If I had to guess, I'm sure the Canadians are extremely happy that Qatar Airways has no way to serve their nation.

Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!

Few understand QR's business model, so their plans for expansion become hard to predict.

I can say that one reason QR does well at IAD is lack of competition from AI, EK, EY, GF, MS, PK, or RJ. In the meantime it helps the Washington area's international population that QR connects to nine cities in India, two in Iran, thirteen in Africa, three in Pakistan, three in Egypt, and seven around the Gulf of Arabia.

So, I'm guessing that QR's future expansion in North America will depend on (1) there being no competition from other Gulf carriers, and (2) the chance of filling their F and C class cabins at a particular airport.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 4):
This is the major issue here. Canada is already very wary of the Middle Eastern carriers as it is. If I had to guess, I'm sure the Canadians are extremely happy that Qatar Airways has no way to serve their nation.

But the same time, QR's very close relationship with UA leads us to believe that QR joining Star might not be too far off. If that happens it would be in Canada's best interest to have a bilateral with Qatar, allowing AC-QR code-share on YYZ-DOH with QR providing the Indian subcontinent feed, and AC providing the oil feed from Alberta and the rest of Canada. A winning combination to beat EK.

I can imagine QR's reach in India/Pakistan in broader than LH, so AC-QR is merely expanding the Star network instead of stealing from AC-LH.

And once QR joins a major alliance, EK/EY would be scrambling to find one too for their own survival, but there's only 1 winner that would be picked by OneWorld.

Quoting Behramjee (Reply 2):Qatar and Canada dont have an air bilateral accord so the matter ends there.

Even if they do get one which would be unlikely in the short term, it would too be restricted to a 3 weekly service max.

Even if QR joins star alliance, the initial service would probably be 7X weekly *split* between QR and AC.

While I believe there is market to tap for QR in Canada, the chance of the bilaterals opening up is minimal (at best).

Quoting KGAIflyer (Reply 5):Few understand QR's business model, so their plans for expansion become hard to predict.

Judging from their financial reports, QR needs to find someone who understands their business model. EK gets a lot of bad press, but at least they made consitent profits during the boom. Seriously, QR needs to stop emulating EK and find their own niche. In my opinion they play 'follow the leader' and then wonder why there are always one step behind... QR's narrow body strategy seems better thought out than their widebody strategy. I think they can be turned around. Perhaps it will just take the new airport? (yea... technically old airport expanded. But its 90%+ a new DOH!)

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 4):This is the major issue here. Canada is already very wary of the Middle Eastern carriers as it is. If I had to guess, I'm sure the Canadians are extremely happy that Qatar Airways has no way to serve their nation.

Not true and not true but thanks for your conjecture.

Quoting MogandoCI (Reply 6):But the same time, QR's very close relationship with UA leads us to believe that QR joining Star might not be too far off.

That is not all that likely. Yes, QR does have tight relations with a number of *A carriers but they are looking too for too much from *A. AAB recently made statements saying as much.

Quoting MogandoCI (Reply 6):I can imagine QR's reach in India/Pakistan in broader than LH, so AC-QR is merely expanding the Star network instead of stealing from AC-LH.

Until they join this is irrelevant.

Quoting MogandoCI (Reply 6):And once QR joins a major alliance, EK/EY would be scrambling to find one too for their own survival, but there's only 1 winner that would be picked by OneWorld.